Injuries are piling up for the San Francisco 49ers and George Kittle has been one of the notable names on the team's injury report. Following his exit from practice on Wednesday, Kyle Shanahan provided an update on Kittle's injury, per Cam Inman of The Mercury News.
#49ers George Kittle update from Kyle Shanahan:
"He's good with all the testing. Nothing pulled or strained. Just tightness. Way George moves and goes, only one way goes. When he's tight, we'll protect him from himself."— Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 28, 2020
During Wednesday's practice, Kittle walked off to the side and began to work with trainers. It was discovered that the All-Pro tight end had suffered some tightness in his hamstring while practicing.
The team took a cautious approach with Kittle and didn't allow him to return to practice. Seeing that Shanahan stated “we'll protect him from himself,” Kittle likely attempted to force himself back onto the field. However, with the regular season right around the corner, the 49ers aren't taking any chances.
Throughout the offseason, San Francisco has endured a plethora of injuries, mostly on the offensive side of the ball. Besides Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Richie James, Kyle Juszczyk, and Ross Dwelley are all dealing with injuries. Samuel and James are expected to miss the start of the season, with the 49ers hopeful that the other guys can suit up in Week 1.
Earlier this month, San Francisco made Kittle the highest-paid tight end in NFL history. The former fifth-round pick inked a five-year, $75 million deal as he enters his fourth year in the NFL. In the past two seasons alone, he's eclipsed 85-plus receptions, more than 1,000 receiving yards and has totaled 10 receiving touchdowns.
When the 49ers take the field in Week 1 versus the Arizona Cardinals, they would prefer to have Kittle available. Therefore, Shanahan and the coaching staff are going to be extra careful with how they handle his practice reps in the coming days.
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